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Letter to the Editor

The article “Crucible of Success: Cultural Intelligence and the Modern Battlespace” (Canadian Military Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3, 2009) was an interesting and thought-provoking article that convincingly and correctly argued the importance of cultural awareness (CA) in today’s contemporary operating environment. Written in 2007, it accurately reflected the state of affairs of our CA Training prior to September 2007. Unfortunately, since it was not published until 2009, it serves as an inaccurate picture of today’s CA Training regime for a majority of our combat troops deploying to Afghanistan.

In January 2008, the Army instituted the Afghanistan CA Training Framework to address feedback received from veterans of Task Force Afghanistan prior to August 2007, who had expressed a general dissatisfaction with the lack of quality, relevancy, and standardization of legacy CA Training. At that time, Force generators were mandated to conduct this training, but were left to their own means to design and deliver it. Language training, now encompassed within CA Training, was usually delivered en masse well in advance of deployment, and it was also deemed ineffective.

The Training Framework that is in place is the result of the collaborative efforts of the Land Force Doctrine and Training System (LFDTS) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), and it followed an extensive Training Needs Analysis (TNA) conducted by the Directorate of Army Training (DAT) in late 2007. Its aim is to provide our members with the cultural knowledge and skills necessary for them to operate effectively, and to contribute to mission success. The Peace Support Training Center (PSTC) works closely with DFAIT and the Terrorism Research Center (TRC), (the CA service providers) toward continual improvement of this comprehensive training program.

The current Canadian Army’s CA Training program is designed for three distinct, Primary Training Audiences (PTA). For each PTA, there are three levels of CA Training to be achieved. These are:

Level 1 - Awareness;

Level 2 - Understanding; and

Level 3 - Application and Leverage.

The PTAs are required to complete all three applicable levels of CA Training prior to deployment. All training is conducted in Canada with the exception of US-based Mirror Image Training provided by the TRC.

PTA 1 – The Troops From private to platoon commander, this PTA includes combat, combat support, and combat service support elements.

The three levels of CA for PTA 1 are:

Level 1 – A two-day presentation by DFAIT, based upon the Afghanistan Cultural Resource (ACR) program. This program covers the same content in the self-study tool for PTAs 2 and 3. However, PTA 1 receives this training as a group presentation (with a maximum of 200 people per group). This presentation also includes the involvement of two Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) throughout the training.

Level 2 – A five-day program entitled, “Afghanistan Deployment Training” designed to provide military units an understanding of the customs, culture, tribes, warlords, and mindset of the enemy in Afghanistan. This program is delivered by TRC SMEs.

Level 3 – Consists of mentoring of platoon/troop members by CF veterans of the Afghan mission. Training is delivered by the Brigade Group (BG) typically during collective training.

PTA 2 – Strategic / Operational / Tactical Commanders, Planners and Selected Enablers  This includes Unit COs, sub-unit OCs, and their respective 2 I/Cs; select BG headquarters staff, such as IO, Psychological Operations (PSYOP), CIMIC, Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Counter-Intelligence, Tactical Questioners and Intelligence personnel, as well as select personnel directly engaged in Diplomacy, Development and Defence (3D) operations at the tactical level [such as the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) and Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLT)].

The three levels of CA Training for PTA 2 are:

Level 1 – An on-line self-study program using the ACR found on PSTC’s website.  The ACR program was developed for the CF by DFAIT.

Level 2 – A four-day program entitled, “Intercultural Effectiveness and Pre-Deployment Training DND – Afghanistan,” which includes knowledge development of Afghan culture, as well as enhanced learning related to cultural influences that impact upon the planning process. This program is delivered by DFAIT.

Level 3 – In addition to being mentored by someone who has done the same job in-theatre, all commanders will attend a three-day program entitled “Executive Briefing on Afghanistan for Commanders.” Enablers will attend a five-day program entitled “Afghanistan Deployment Training for Enablers,” which is designed for specialty military positions (Counter-Intelligence, HUMINT, Intelligence Analysts, CIMIC) requiring a more detailed understanding of the strategic and tactical environment, motivations of the enemy, exploitation of the enemy’s weaknesses, cell dynamics, intelligence operations, internal security, logistics, recruitment, and training.  Both training packages are delivered by the TRC.

 

PTA 3 - Strategic and Operational Commanders, Planners and Selected Enablers This includes Strategic Advisory Teams, JTF-A HQ personnel, and all personnel directly engaged in 3D at the strategic or operational levels. “Selected Enablers” include PSYOP, CIMIC, Counter Intelligence (CI),  HUMINT, and Intelligence personnel at the strategic and operational level.

The three levels of CA Training for PTA 3 are:

Level 1 - The on-line ACR self-study program as detailed in PTA 2, Level 1.

Level 2 - A four-day program entitled, “Intercultural Effectiveness and Pre-Deployment Training DND – Afghanistan,” which includes knowledge development of Afghan culture, as well as enhanced learning related to cultural influences that impact on the planning process.  Training is delivered by DFAIT.

Level 3- In addition to being mentored by someone who has done the same job in-theatre, all commanders will attend a three-day program entitled, “Executive Briefing on Afghanistan for Commanders.” This program is delivered by the TRC.

The current CA Training program is focused solely upon Afghanistan. However, future training packages are being developed for mission areas such as Sudan and Haiti, and they will be posted on the PSTC website when available. In addition, the overarching competencies and skills gained in intercultural effectiveness training will apply to any future mission.

Additional information is available on the PSTC website, located on the DWAN at http://lfdts.kingston.mil.ca/pstc-cfsp/ and on the Internet at http://armyapp.dnd.ca/pstc-cfsp/main.asp.  All those involved in the delivery of Afghan pre-deployment training are strongly encouraged to visit this website to ensure their people receive the correct CA Training. Questions may be directed to MWO R. Kluke at 613-541-5010, extension 3195.